Erik did, in fact, take Christine to Mass the very next morning. She had seemed almost excited, choosing the best dress she had. It was a pale pink gown, the sleeves and bodice lined with lace. It was nothing spectacular, nothing outrageous, but it was good to see her actually care, even taking the time to tie her hair up carefully.

He took her to the same church they had been married in, the same one that he visited regularly, and they sat in the very back pew at Christine's insistence. It was odd - for all the time he had spent in the very same building it was only the second service he had attended, often waiting until later in the day on Sunday's and Wednesday's, finding the thought of actually attending a service without his wife to be odd.

But she came, she sang with the music. She held back but there was a certain peacefulness about her. She did not clutch his sleeve tightly, though she did manage to touch him in some way throughout the entire service as though simply to reassure herself that he was still there - her hand would rest on his arm briefly, her knee would brush against his, but she seemed more caught up in the service than she was in reassuring herself.

When the service was over they left quickly, Christine unwilling to be caught in the crowd and insisting that she was ready to go home.

And when Erik returned to the church the next morning with a fresh paper, the father greeted him with a kind smile.

"I saw you yesterday with your wife. It is good to see you two in attendance," he said.

Erik nodded, mostly ignoring his words and taking his place on the first pew, distracting himself with the paper.

"I had rather hoped to speak with you after the service, but you left so quickly."

"Christine does not enjoy crowds," Erik replied, keeping his eyes on the paper even though the words seemed to blur together.

"How is she doing Mr. Mulheim? It seems it's been quite a while since you've spoken of her."

"She is fine," he said, echoing her own words with a sigh. "She is sad, but she is fine - at least, as she tells me."

There was silence for a long while as Erik stared at the paper. And then he sighed. "What exactly are the duties of a stable boy?" He muttered.

The Father laughed at that, shaking his head. "You are no stable boy, Mr. Mulheim."

Erik shrugged one shoulder. "I am no merchant either but it seems that I must take something. I - I am not opposed to physical labor, you know. I worked as a mason for a long while. I doubt stable work would be more difficult."

There was another long silence and then the Father sighed, rubbing his hands together. "You are musically inclined, are you not?"

"I am a musician," Erik replied evenly. "I am also an architect, a mason, an inventor."

The Father nodded at that. "Do you have any experience with pipe organs?"

Erik blinked at his question and finally looked toward the man. "I built one," he confessed, "in my old home. I used to play on it almost exclusively."

"Perhaps you would play something for me," the Father said carefully.

Erik's fingers twitched against the paper. "Why?"

"My organist is nearing retirement," the Father said with a sigh. "His bones ache with every turn in the weather, he is half deaf. He used to play beautifully, you know. But he has grown old, he has brought his intention to leave the service up many times and I fear to make him stay is only becoming cruel."

"I do not believe," Erik said quietly.

The Father gave him a small smile. "I don't see how that has any effect on your skill," he said. "I know that it is not the position you were meant for - and it is in no way a permanent arrangement. When you find something better suited to your skill you will be free to leave. The pay is far below what you are worth I am sure. But it would be a steady paycheck, you would only be required for Wednesday and Sunday services. You would have free access to the instrument - and the building, as always. It would not be ideal, I'm sure, but we would be lucky to have you."

Erik sighed, running his hand over the unmasked side of his face. "I don't need charity," he said.

"If it were charity," the Father said, "I would not ask to hear you play before offering you the position. So, will you play me something?"

And against his better judgement Erik found himself nodding, finding himself nervous to play for the first time. He chose a simple hymn - Ave Maria.

When he finished the Father was looking at him in an odd way. "Next Wednesday," he said quietly. "If you accept you will start next Wednesday."

"I don't want to be on display," Erik confessed quietly, his fingertips brushing the edge of his mask in an attempt to reassure himself that it was still in place.

"You never even have to face the congregation," the Father said. "It is your choice, Mr. Mulheim. By now you ought to realize that I have no ill intentions toward you."

Erik found himself nodding, and after a long moment he found himself standing, awkwardly holding his hand out. The Father took it, giving him a firm handshake. "Next Wednesday," Erik said firmly. And the Father smiled kindly at him.

When Erik returned home that afternoon it was to find his wife curled up in his chair in the parlor, a book open in her lap.

At the click of the door she looked up and smiled at him. "You're home early," she murmured as she set the book aside.

He nodded, taking a few steps toward her. "And I have wonderful news."

"Oh?" She said, looking honestly interested.

He nodded again, taking a few more steps and kneeling in front of the chair, taking her hands gently in his. "I've found a job," he said softly.

She looked surprised at first, and then she smiled, pulling her hands from his and leaning forward, catching him in an awkward hug.

"That is wonderful news, Erik," she said, sounding utterly sincere. "And what is this new job?"

"You would laugh at me," he murmured.

He felt her smile against his neck. "I wouldn't laugh at you," she said honestly. And then she was pulling away from him, looking him in the eye with a gentle smile. "If anything I am proud of you," she confessed.

"Proud of me," he repeated flatly.

She nodded. "I am, ridiculous as it may sound. I won't laugh at you - I know how difficult it has been Erik. But you've done it, you've found an honest job. And I am proud of you, regardless of what the job is. And I most definitely will not laugh at you."

"I am the new church organist," he said, his mouth pulling into a smile.

She blinked at him. "Well, wonderful still," she said, smiling. "Unexpected, but still wonderful. You get to enjoy music and I - maybe I can attend more services."

"You've always been welcome to attend services," he said gently. "I never meant to make you think that you couldn't."

"I know," she said softly, leaning forward and pulling him against her in another awkward hug, pressing her lips to the temple of his mask. "But now I'll have a reason to."